Harold Allan Clarke, born on April 5, 1942, in Salford, Lancashire, England, is a renowned English rock singer best known as a founding member and the original lead singer of the Hollies. Clarke's career with the Hollies began in December 1962 when he and his childhood friend Graham Nash formed the band. The Hollies quickly rose to fame, achieving numerous international hit singles. Clarke co-wrote several of the band's iconic songs, including "On a Carousel," "Carrie Anne," "Jennifer Eccles," and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress."

Throughout the 1960s and beyond, Clarke was a significant force in the band's success, contributing to 30 UK chart singles, with 17 reaching the Top 10. In the US, the Hollies had 23 chart singles, six of which made it to the Top 10. Clarke's songwriting collaborations were often credited under the pseudonym "L. Ransford" and later as "Clarke-Nash-Hicks."

In 1969, Clarke took on a more prominent role following Nash's departure, leading the band through successful projects such as "Hollies Sing Dylan." Clarke retired from performing in 2000 but made a return to the music industry in 2019. His contributions to music were recognized when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the Hollies.